Hybrid View

Stubborn Black Stains in Ipe and Cedar

I've had a lot of success cleaning Ipe decks with a simple bleach water mixture - until this porch. I put a 12.5% pool shock/Elemonator/water mixture on this Ipe/Cedar porch with lots of black staining. I expected that to loosen up everything well and it didn't do a thing. I strengthened the mixture and again, nothing.

I decided to regroup and try again when the wood is dry. I'm wondering if the black stains are beneath an old finish and a stripper should be my next attempt. I'm thinking 8oz F-18/gal water directly applied might do the trick if it's a stubborn old finish.